 Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 22 Nov 2008 |  Photographer: Sergio Llamera
Date: 22 Nov 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 22 Nov 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 22 Nov 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 22 Nov 2008 |  Photographer: Sergio Llamera
Date: 22 Nov 2008 |  Photographer: Sergio Llamera
Date: 22 Nov 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 22 Nov 2008 |  Photographer: Sergio Llamera
Date: 22 Nov 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 22 Nov 2008 |
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| 22 Nov 2008 - Estadio Islas Malvinas, Mar del Plata - Emily Forder-White | |
| Argentina in trouble after epic doubles loss |
There was danger of the roof being blown off the pressure cooker that is the Estadio Islas Malvinas on Saturday, and for those handful of people catching some rays outside the stadium, they probably had the safest seat in the house as the most high-octane match of the 2008 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Final so far saw Argentina succumb to Spain in a 57 75 76(5) 63 thriller of a doubles match.
Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco, an experienced duo on the tour and in Davis Cup, recovered from a set down against David Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri who at the beginning of the match had almost convinced the crowd that an Argentina victory was a foregone conclusion.
"They began to help each other less and less," Lopez remarked. "I was physically down in the third set and Fernando helped me. They did not do that, maybe it's because we know each other better."
Who would have thought that this would be the situation on Saturday, and in all fairness, probably not even the Spaniards as was evident when Lopez and Verdasco collapsed on the court in each others arms and embraced captain Emilio Sanchez and the team in sheer relief and exuberation. This is a momentous occasion for Lopez, who has carried his team through this final so far and whatever the result on Sunday, will be long remembered for the huge part he has played this weekend.
So it’s ashen faces in the Argentine camp. The last time Argentina was 2-1 down in a home tie was 11 years ago against Ecuador in Buenos Aires, a tie which they ended up losing in the fourth rubber. Now, a sleepless night ensues for home captain Alberto Mancini as he decides whether to play Juan Martin del Potro, who is under strain with muscle fatigue after his loss to Feliciano Lopez on Friday, or Jose Acasuso, the world No. 48 who is barely a hardcourt player and who could still be harbouring memories of his crushing defeat to Marat Safin in the fifth rubber of the 2006 Davis Cup final against Russia. Whatever Mancini decides, the pressure is almost unbearable.
"The team is logically down but we have to go through that," said Mancini. "We have to wait and stay quiet and plan. Maybe the immensity of the event was too much for my players. We still have to fight, there are two more points tomorrow and we know it will be hard."
The stadium reached uncontrollable levels during the 3 hour 18 minute match, with both captains and players joining referee Stefan Fransson and umpire Pascal Maria in calming down the hysterical Argentine crowd, who were in their utmost frenzy during a rollercoaster third set when Nalbandian and Calleri pulled back a double break deficit from 1-5 down to force a tiebreak.
The Argentines took the early break to sail to a 4-0 lead, for the Spaniards only to win the next six points and steal a two-sets-to-one lead, denying distraction from a controversial point at 5-2 Argentina when a shout-out from someone in the crowd during play helped Spain secure the next point, which paused play for a moment as an incensed Nalbandian stepped up to the umpire’s chair.
“The crowd didn’t behave well today, they were using bad words and insulting us,” said Sanchez after the match. “I’m disappointed in the way they behaved but we know now and we’ll be ready for tomorrow.” Verdasco, who was taking most of the grief from the crowd added “they actually motivated me and allowed me to play better and their strategy totally backfired.”
"This is Davis Cup, this is normal," responded Calleri. "Maybe they went too far. I don’t think they were insulting Verdasco but I don’t know."
The fourth and final set began like the calm after the storm and it wasn’t until the fifth game that Spain broke and again in the seventh to advance to a 5-2 lead. Verdasco, who managed to crawl out of his shell halfway through the match and appeared almost Nadal-like with his fist pumping, set up the first match point with an ace at 5-2, 40-15, but it wasn’t until three match points later that Spain secured the crucial advantage.
The vast blue and white Argentine flag that had been rippling across one side of the stadium has now made way for the red and yellow colours of the Spanish matadors who are one match away from a third Davis Cup title. In the last 36 years of Davis Cup finals, only three times have the doubles victors not gone on to win the final. That is a dangerous statistic for the Argentine team to have on their minds as they go into Sunday’s singles and bid for a 14th straight victory on home soil. And if Spain can pull off the biggest shock in South American sport this weekend, they will become just the seventh nation in the Cup’s 108-year history to win three or more titles.
Related Links on other websites
> Información en español - AAT
> Información en español - RFET
Related Links on Daviscup.com
> Tie Information
> Lopez pulls off del Potro upset
> Nalbandian dismisses Ferrer to seal opener
> Nalbandian v Ferrer kickstarts long-awaited final
> Countdown fever in Mar del Plata
> Argentina ready to bring the Cup home
> Final touches in Mar del Plata
Related Audio
 Interview with Lopez-Verdasco (ESP)
Interview with Alberto Mancini (ARG)
 
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